We still went with Rafale after being called chor: Nirmala Sitharaman at India Today Budget Roundtable

While speaking at India Today Budget Roundtable, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said the government has made many daring decisions. Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s chor jibe, Nirmala Sitharaman said that the government went ahead with the Rafale deal despite the taunts.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday, while speaking at India Today Budget Roundtable, said the government has made many daring decisions in terms of investments and disinvestments.

Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s chor jibe, Nirmala Sitharaman said that the government went ahead with the Rafale deal despite the taunts.

“We have taken quite a lot of daring decisions. He [Rahul Gandhi] called us a chor, but we still went ahead with Rafale, didnt we?” Nirmala Sitharaman said.

Talking about whether government should run private enterprises, Nirmala Sitharaman said, “Government should not be doing things it is not meant to do.”

When asked about disinvestments, Nirmala Sitharaman said that the concern was to not do a shoddy job where public assets are concerned.

“The delay is not because we are questioning the philosophy. No, No. Philosophy is intact. All of us are committed to it. But obviously, it’s a public asset. We have to make sure we don’t do a shoddy job of it. We need to get a proper price for it,” Nirmala Sitharaman said.

When asked about whether the government hesitated selling a government company like Air India due to Rahul Gandhi’s “suit boot ki sarkar” jibe, Nirmala Sitharaman said, “I don’t think that was the reason that we did not go ahead with many of the disinvestments.”

She also said, “The CCA had given its clearance. We had every right to go ahead and disinvest. It’s not as if the ‘suit boot ka sarkar’ matter would hit us.”

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